E-MDTs

E-MDTs

About E-MDTs

Each year over 260,000 older adults are victims of elder abuse in New York State. Financial exploitation is a fast growing and complex form of elder abuse that can have devastating consequences for older adult victims. While elder abuse multidisciplinary teams are emerging in various localities across the country, Enhanced Multidisciplinary Teams (E-MDTs) differ in that they focus on financial exploitation while also addressing other co-occurring forms of abuse.

E-MDTs are comprised of professionals from various disciplines whose primary focus is to investigate, intervene, and prevent financial exploitation of older adults. E-MDTs have unique access to a forensic accountant and geriatric psychiatrist in addition to drawing on the expertise of disciplines including aging services, the financial industry, and local legal and law enforcement. The team provides a holistic response which includes recommendations and support to those working on complex cases of financial exploitation.

E-MDT Membership

Membership is based on the unique needs and resources of the individual county. It is important to identify and recruit E-MDT members representing key programs and services within each county.

Key member agencies for each county include:

Coordinator

Adult Protective Services

District Attorney’s Office

Law enforcement

Office for the Aging

Additional member agencies to consider may include:

Elder abuse prevention providers

Civil legal service providers

Bank/credit unions

Financial advisors

Domestic violence service providers

Ombudsman

Welfare fraud investigator

Veterans Administration

Department of Social Services

Elder law attorney

County Attorney’s Office

Attorney General’s Office

Department of Taxation and Finance

Lifespan oversees development of E-MDTs in Upstate NY. The New York City Elder Abuse Center (NYCEAC) oversees E-MDT development in New York City.

Counties with E-MDTs (either functioning or in development)

Allegany

Cattaraugus

Cayuga

Chautauqua

Chemung

Clinton

Dutchess

Erie

Franklin

Kings (Brooklyn)

Livingston

Monroe

New York (Manhattan)

Niagara

Onondaga

Ontario

Schuyler

Seneca

Ulster

Wayne

Yates

E-MDTs in New York are the result of an Elder Abuse Prevention Interventions Initiative between 2012-2016 which was funded through a federal grant awarded to New York State Office of the Aging by the Administration for Community Living. Current funding is provided by the New York State Legislature to the NYS Office for the Aging.